“Australia is a sadder place": Shock as John Blackman's death confirmed
Australian radio legend and star of Hey Hey it's Saturday John Blackman has passed away at the age of 76.
Entertainment reporter Peter Ford broke the sad news on The Morning Show on Wednesday morning, saying, “Australia is a sadder place with this news."
"John was an incredible man. In the past years, he has put up a huge cancer fight,” Ford said.
Blackman had been battling cancer for many years, undergoing numerous operations on his face and skull to remove cancerous tumours.
John’s was first diagnosed with cancer in 2018 after visiting his doctor about a seemingly minor blemish on his chin, and he was shocked to learn he had an aggressive form of skin cancer in his mouth and jaw.
In a 12-hour operation, John’s lower jaw and teeth were removed, and his jaw was replaced with a part of his thigh bone.
“It’s like I ploughed into a tree and my life changed forever,” he told the Herald Sun at the time.
Blackman became a household name after his time on Hey Hey It's Saturday, and was known and loved for voicing the cheeky stick puppet Dickie Knee.
John is survived by his wife Cecile and their adult daughter.
Image credits: Facebook / Seven